Haha, now that you mention that it does seem odd, however, this has to do more with comprehension than anything. You cannot communicate with an animal, it has no idea what you're doing, when you are put into a position where an animals life is in your hands you must treat it with proper affection and respect, nor can you abuse any animals (although there IS a difference between abuse and discipline). But with a person, you CAN talk to them and ask them to stop or try to distance yourself from them, and even when you do they can ignore you or pursue you (think: a bratty gang of kids and one of them wants to prove they're 'hardcore' and won't leave you be), in such an event you have a duty to protect yourself as well as any others they are troubling, this includes anything from giving them a slap upside the head to totally incapacitating them to make an example to the rest of their gang. Respect goes both ways, and how can anyone respect you if you do not respect yourself enough to stand up when you are being harassed?